Thames fit a water meter without consulting me!

zain

Hi

I have just moved into a new property and in a few months ago there was something strange going on outside the property. Today i received a water bill and told of the meter reading. I didn't even know they were fitting one!

Should i have been consulted? I don't really like the idea of a meter and feel i should decide what is best for me.

They refuse to remove it!
Any thoughts?

thanks in advance

Cardew

On change of occupant the water companies are entitled to fit a meter and you have no option to refuse.(other than have no water supply at all!)
This is all in the regulations for the water industry being privatised.

Most, but not all, companies enforce that regulation.

Obviously you should have had some notification of the meter being fitted, if only to check the meter reading.

cattie

Water meters can save you a lot of money, unless you are a family with heavy useage.

When I moved from a rateable value house to this one with a water meter, I found that my water charges were one third of what they had been previously. I'll be moving again soon & if there is no water meter in the house I'm going to be asking for one to be installed.

zain

Yeah, reading the thread above on pros and cons, it may not be such a bad idea. Our property is over 400K and we are a family with 2 children and generally quite careful. So is suspect it may work out better.

I guess i was just annoyed that no one asked me if i wanted one!

withabix

zain wrote: »

Hi

I have just moved into a new property

If it's a NEW property they are OBLIGED to fit a meter.

It's about time everyone had a water meter anyway. You should pay for what you use.

zain

No sorry i do not mean 'new'. Just new to us. Its a 1910 property.

Cardew

zain wrote: »

No sorry i do not mean 'new'. Just new to us. Its a 1910 property.

Post #2 applies - you have no option to refuse.

Adrian_london

I moved into my new home (not a new build, just new to me).

They had to get permission from me to enter my house and go to my back garden (where the work needed to be done) to fit the meter.

I said no.

I'm still rated.

Woby_Tide

but are you better off?

zain

Adrian_london wrote: »

I moved into my new home (not a new build, just new to me).

They had to get permission from me to enter my house and go to my back garden (where the work needed to be done) to fit the meter.

I said no.

I'm still rated.

They never needed any access. The first i knew of it was when the bill arrived!

sassy2104

We recently moved house and had to have a meter fitted - we were informed beforehand but I think this method of fitting meters when there is a change of occupancy is totally wrong - I am not against water meters as such and can understand the need for them - what I object to is just because I moved house, I have to pay for every drop I use while my neighbours can freely wash the car, water the garden and generally waste as much water as they like while I am subsidizing them!! Surely it would be better (and easier for the water companies) to fit meters one area at a time rather than an odd house here and there, as people move house. When there are not many people living in a big house, they can request a meter - which works out cheaper for them but when there are lots of people living in a house, you can't request NOT to have a meter!!! Where's the justice in that ???!!! I have put my complaint in writing to both my water company and Ofwat and will be taking it further. Sorry to waffle on but it just makes me so cross.